Great Falls Ace Hardware plans to rebuild its store at 3527 10th Ave. S., according to store president Jim Hellen.

The new store will be 20 percent larger than the old building, which was once the East Side Super Save grocery store.

“I think even though we’re only expanding 20 percent, it’s going to feel like more than that because we’re going to be able to lay it out better,” said Hellen, who added that the current structure needed such extreme repairs that building new was the best option.

Because the new building is going up on the same site, Hellen was able to work out the logistics so that Ace Hardware could remain open for the duration of the construction. The new store will go up, everything will be moved in, and the old store will then be demolished to complete the project.

Hellen is excited to get the building set back from the street and add attractive landscaping and parking. The company was granted a variance by the Great Falls City Commission this month to reduce the usual parking requirements by 7 to 10 spaces due to constraints caused by an existing alley and conflicts between storm-water management and landscaping requirements.

“The most exciting part of it is what we’re going to be able to offer the community,” Hellen said. “It should definitely freshen that area up.”

The variance will allow Ace Hardware to meet all city guidelines and move forward with construction, which Hellen hopes will begin in March.

A larger building means Ace can expand on existing product lines, increase the size of its service department and offer more outdoor and barbecue products. The staff would also increase by six to eight employees.

With luck, Hellen says they could be moving into the new building in September.